substance use

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services announced Tuesday it is partnering with a local nonprofit to offer three free mental health first aid trainings to help Oklahomans respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges.

The number of criminal charges brought against people for using drugs during their pregnancies is rising in Oklahoma; a trend doctors say is rooted in a misunderstanding of how drug use affects pregnancy.

In Oklahoma, pregnant women with substance use disorders can face a number of criminal charges. One new program aims to address the issue in a better way.

Justin Zagaruyka’s problems with substance abuse began early. He started smoking marijuana when he was 11 or 12. Within a couple years, he was using…